A numerical study of high-speed hydrodynamic gas bearing performance is presented using both finite element and finite difference methods. Efficient numerical procedures are developed to analyze diffusive-convective thin film gas flows in some simple geometries. A novel direct finite element formulation employing a new class of shape functions is specially devised to solve the Reynolds equation for compressible fluids. The formulation is as computationally efficient as the classical upwind finite element schemes without introducing artificial diffusion into the solution. Bearing load-capacity, static stiffness coefficients and frequency-dependent force coefficients are calculated for gas-lubricated plane and Rayleigh step slider bearings. [S0742-4787(00)01701-X]

No abstract

An efficient and accurate finite element procedure is specially devised to analyze the performance of gas-lubricated spiral groove face seals operating at high speeds. The procedure is based on the Galerkin weighted residual method with a new class of high-order shape functions, which are derived from an approximate solution to the nonlinear Reynolds equation within an element. Static and dynamic performance characteristics, such as seal opening force, flow leakage and frequency-dependent dynamic force coefficients, are determined to study the effects of high speeds on the behavior of spiral groove gas face seals.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract